Walking Health Benefits Are Truly Endless

When it comes to living a healthier life most of us automatically think of spending hours at the gym and eating salad. While going to the gym and being mindful of what you are putting in your body is important, the problem is most of us are completely overlooking how we are spending 40+ hours each week. Sitting at work. Those of us with normal desk jobs, who spend an hour at the gym a day, are only actually being active for 16% of our day. This is a tiny percentage. This means that the other 84% of our day is probably spent relatively sedentary. Likely sitting at a desk, sitting in a vehicle, and then sitting on our couch at home. Wow, that is a lot of sitting and stillness!

Scientific research is now showing the negative side affects that a sedentary lifestyle may have on us, which includes weight gain, back pain, poor posture, decreased flexibility and mobility, and much more. Even those of us who regularly visit the gym are still experiencing many of these side affects of remaining still for far too long. It seems like a no brainer, but going to the gym for one hour a day does not completely erase the affects of remaining still for the remaining 23 hours of that day.

Movement is the Answer

Kudos to those of you making the effort to workout on a regular basis, but the fact is all movement matters. Popular authors like Katy Bowman and James Levine are now bringing light to the fact that how you spend the majority of your day is what matters in the long run. In a nutshell, this means that if you spend your day moving – walking, bending/lifting, etc. may mean more than that hour long gym session. An easy way to get moving is simply to walk. It really is that easy, just walk.

Just Walk

Looking to live a healthier life that is movement rich? Just walk! More and more studies are being released on how powerful walking really is. Here are a few fun facts about walking health benefits:

• Influences blood sugar and insulin sensitivity – Walking can actually help prevent Type II Diabetes
• Improves blood pressure
• Improves your immune system – Walking gets the lymphatic system moving, which can boost your immune system
• Increase longevity – Adding just 11 minutes of walking into your daily life can add up to two years to your lifespan!
• Reduce stress-related hormones
• Increased energy

Tips to Walking More Everyday

The health benefits of simply walking are endless. Just walk, it is really that simple. Here are some simple tips to get walking more everyday:

• Walk as a mode of transportation – When possible always try to walk to your destination
• Too far to walk? Drive, but park as far away as possible
• Skip the elevator – Always opt for the stairs
• Skip the email – Walk over to your co-worker to ask them a question or discuss an issue face-to-face
• Drink more water – Drinking more water will equal more trips to the bathroom, meaning more walking
• Invest in a treadmill desk – Yes, you can actually walk your entire work day with a treadmill desk – learn more
• Track your steps and have a goal in mind – Aim to get at least 5,000 steps in everyday

Literally take the first steps to a healthier life style – Get up and walk!